Hydrant drain valve seal

ABSTRACT

A sealing arrangement for the drain openings in a hydrant valve seat ring wherein the radial passages leading from these openings through the ring wall area slanted with respect to the ring axis and have their inner ends enlarged to receive hollow resilient sleeves cut on the bias.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee James William Dashner Elmira, N.Y.

July 18, 1969 Aug. 17, 197 1 Kennedy Valve Mtg. (10., Inc.

Elmira, NY.

HYDRANT DRAIN VALVE SEAL 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl

Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 352,288 11/1886 Bardo et a1. 137/307 3,104,554 9/1963 Mueller et a] 137/307 X 3,235,224 2/1966 Grove 251/328 X Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Assistant Examiner-Richard Gerard A trorney H. Edward Foerch ABSTRACT: A sealing arrangement for the drain openings in a hydrant valve seat ring wherein the radial passages leading from these openings through the ring wall area slanted with respect to the ring axis and have their inner ends enlarged to receive hollow resilient sleeves cut on the bias.

PATENTEUAUGWIBYI 3,599,662

sum 1 OF 3 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. JAMES W. DASHNE'R BY /w "*1 F1 on (A ATTORNEY PATENIEU ms] 1 Ian SHEET 3 OF 3 ll/ W INVENTOR. JAMES DASHNER ATTORNEY HYDRANT DRAIN VALVE SEAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention When hydrants are used or tested, water enters the vertical portion or standpipe between the valve which is located below the ground level and the outlet connection which is located above the ground level. If this water remained in this portion after the valve is closed it could freeze and make the hydrant inoperative. Accordingly, hydrants are provided with drain holes which ventthe standpipe to the soil. A drain valve closes each .drainhole when the main valve is open and opens it when the main valve is closed.

These drain valves are of the slide-type. Flat elongated slide members moving axially through the seatring in unison with the main valve maintain contact with a correspondingly flat inner surface of this ring. When the main valve is closed, apertures in the slide members register with thedrain holes in this ring surface. When'the main valve is open-the slide members block and seal the drain holes.

To prevent leakage which would wash away the soil around the shoe when the hydrant valve isopen it is necessary to have a tight shut off of the drain holes when the drain valves are closed. This is accomplished by having aform of resilient seal between the slide and the seat ring at all times.

2'. Description of the Prior Art An early form of this resilient seal was an elongated leather facing on the slide-members. The expansion of the leather when it became wet would cause it to press tightly against the inner ring surface to form the seal.

More recently, O-rings have been located in grooves cut in the inner flattened surface of the seat ring around the drain openings. These O-rings' are able to maintain sealing contact with'the smooth metal surfaces of the slide in all positions of the hydrant valve and permit a draining of the'hydrant when the apertures in the slides register with the drain holes in the seat ring.

One difficulty with the leather facing was that the expansion would cause it to catch on the edges of the drain openings and be shaved as it-moves with respect to the ring. Bonding or mechanical attachment of one of the more modern facing materials such as Neoprene would avoid this expansion but, because of the lesser expansion, the machining would have to be more accurate to assure a tight seal. Also, the bonding or mechanical attachment itself would present some problems.

The O-ring arrangement solved the facing problems; but its difficulty is the expense of cutting the O-ring groove on the inner surface of the seal ringelt has been necessary to insert a small quill-shaft through the drain opening from the outside surfaceand then fasten to it a tool for back cutting the O-ring groove. This is a difficult machining operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these difficulties by countersinking the innerends of the drain openings in the seat ring and providing in the space thus created a sleeve or tube of resilient material which compressively engages the slide member of the drain valve. In a preferred form this tube is itself countersunk and provided with an insert of low friction material.

By this arrangement each tube can be fitted with its insert before thetube is inserted into a drain opening. The-resilient tube material urges the ring against the slide member to fluidly seal therebetween and the ringprovides a low friction sliding surface.

Most important, however. is the fact that with the arrangement thus described the. drain opening is formed with its axis at an angle to the radii of the seat ring, that is. at an angle of a plane of the seal ring, which enables a countersinking tool of normal shaft size to clear the oppositeside of the ring and, approach each drain opening directly. This is an ordinary machining operation and much less difficult than one in which the tool approaches through the drain opening from the outside of the ring and then performs a back-cut.

OBJECTS Accordingly, it is an object to the present invention to provide a fire hydrant having an improved drain valve seal means which is positioned in a drain passage having its axis at an angle to the radii of the hydrant seal ring.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fire hydrant having an improved drain valve seal means wherein the seal means are formed by a resilient tube positioned in the drain passage.

Another object is to provide a fire hydrant having an improved drain valve seal wherein a resilient tube is c0mpressively positioned in the drain duct and cooperates with the drain valve to provide a continuous seal therewith.

Another object is to provide an improved drain valve seal wherein a low friction insert is provided in the valve engaging surface of the resilient seal member.

A further object of this invention is toprovide a drain valve seal for a tire hydrant in which the seal is easily formed and assembled without special tools or machining operations.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The best mode in which I have contemplated use applying the principals of the present invention are shown in the ac companying drawings, but-these areto-be deemed primarily illustrative for it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression inthe appended claim whatever of patentable subject matter resides inthe invention disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fire hydrant embodying drain valve seal means according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the hydrant taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the drain valve in open position;

FIG. 4 isa view like FIG. 3, but showing the drain valve in closed position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the drain passage and the drain seal only, as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG.;6 is a viewtaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing a plan view of 'the'drain seal only;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 5, but showing another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the resilient tube only in its preferred uncompressed shape.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a hydrant embodying the present invention including a shoe or body member 10, a lower standpipe section 18, an upper standpipe section 30, and a cap portion 44.

The body member 10 is formed of castiron and defines a cavity 12 having an inlet opening 13 and an outlet opening 14. The body member 10 has generally an elbow shape. The inlet opening 13 is defined by a flange 15 adapted for connection to a water supply main (not shown) and the outlet opening is defined by a flange 16 adapted for connection to an end of the lower standpipe section 18.

The lower standpipe section 18 is in effect an extension of the standpipe portion of the hydrant and would be positioned below ground level when the hydrant is in service. It comprises a hollow, cylindrical, cast iron body portion 19 having a lower flange 20 and an upper flange 21. The body portion 19 forms a fluid passage 26 through the section 18. The lower; flange 2.0 is of a size and shape which permit its connection to. the flange 16 by suitable means such as by bolts 24 extending through aligned holes 23 and. secured by nuts 25, with a suitable gasket 22 positioned between the flanges to form a fluidtight. connection.

The upper standpipe section 30 has also a generally hollow, cylindricalshape and, is of cast iron construction. The lower portion-ofthe section 30 has a flange 32 which. has a, size and shape to. permit its connection to the flange 21' of the lower standpipe section 18. Flanges 32 and 21 are connected by suitable means such as bolts 33 extending through holes 31 and secured by nuts 34, with a suitable gasket 39 positioned between flanges to form a fluidtight connection. The upper standpipe section 30 forms a fluid passage 36 to receive water from the lower standpipe section 18 and discharge water through an opening 37 formed by an annular boss 50 extending from the cylindrical wall and perpendicular to the axis of the upper standpipe section 30. The upper portion of the section 30 has a flange 35. l

A suitable hose connection is provided on the portion 50 and is shown as a threaded sleeve 52 to which a hose (not shown) may be attached when the hydrant is to be used. When the hydrant is notin use, a cap 54 is threaded on the sleeve 52 to close the opening 37 and prevent foreign materials from entering the fluid passage portions of the hydrant.

The cap portion 44 includes a cover plate 38 and a bonnet 45 which are attached to the upper flange 35 of the standpipe section 30 by bolts 40 extending through suitable holes 43 in the flange 35, the cover plate 38 and the bonnet 45 and secured by nuts 41. The cover plate 38 functions to close the upper end of the standpipe 30 to fluid flow. The bonnet 45 and cover plate 38 journal an operating stem nut 85 for rotation. To this end, the stem nut 85, which is adapted to receive a wrench at its upper end, extends through an opening 90 in the cover plate and an opening 91 in the bonnet. The stem nut has a flange 86 mounted against a surface 87 of the cover plate 38 and is restrained from axial movement by a retaining member 94 which may be secured in any suitable manner, such as by threads 95. Further, the stem nut 85 and the opening 90 are sealed against fluid flow therebetween by O-rings 96 and a weather seal is provided between the stem nut 85 and the opening 91 by O-ring 97.

The hydrant further includes a stern 100 which is conveniently shown in three parts 70, 80, and 81 securely fastened in end to end relation to form a unitary hydrant stem. The upper end of the stem part 81 has threads 88. Threads 89 are formed within a bore 83 in the stem nut 85 to operatively engage the threads 88 of the stem end 81. Thus, when the stem is held against rotation, as will be explained hereinafter, operation of the stern nut 85 by rotation causes the stem 100 to rise or fall along its axis by the cooperative action of the threads 88 and 89.

Referring to FIG. 3 the lower part 70 of the stern 100 extends through the outlet opening 14 of the body member into the cavity 12. A main valve 65 is securely mounted on the end of the stem portion 70 and includes an upper valve member 66, a lower valve member 67 and a main valve washer 68 of a generally disk shape. The upper valve member 66 which is of cast iron material engages a shoulder 72 on the stem portion 70 thereby limiting its upper position along the stem. A key 47 is positioned in a slot 48 in the stem portion 70 and a slot 49 in the upper valve member 66 to prevent relative rotation. The lower valve member 67 which is also of cast iron material is provided with a threaded bore 73 to threadedly secure the lower valve member 67 on threads 74 on the end of the stem portion 70. The main valve washer 68 is formed of a suitable resilient material to provide a fluid seal when forced against an annular surface. Thus, it will be seen that the main valve washer 68 is secured on the stem portion 70 and can be moved upwardly and downwardly by movement of the stem 100 along its axis.

Referring to FIG. 3, a seat ring 60 is positioned in the cavity 12 of the body member 10 for cooperating with the main valve 65 to control flow of water through the hydrant. The seat ring 60 is annular and of a bronze material, and it is preferably positioned in the cavity 12 on the outlet opening side of the main valve 65. Thecylindrical outer surface of the seat ring 60 is provided with threads 62 whichengage threads 61 formed in the surface of the cavity of the body member 10. An annular stop or shoulder 101 extends from the cavity wall to limit the travel of the seal ring as it is threaded into the body member and to position the seal ring inthe body member.

O-rings 1 l0 and 111 are positioned between the seat ring 60 and the body member 10, the O-ring 1 10 being in a recess 112 in the sea ring 60 on the upper side of the threads 62 and the O-ring 111 being in a recess 113 in the seat ring 60 on the lower side of the threads 62.

The cylindrical surface of the seat ring 60 cooperates with the inner wall of the body member 10 to form an annular chamber 120. The annular chamber is preferably located between o-ring s 111 and the threads 62. A substantially cylindrical inner surface of the seal ring 60 defines a fluid opening through the seat ring; and with the seat ring positioned in the body member 10, as described above, all fluid flowing through the cavity 12 must flow through the seat ring opening.

The seat ring 60 has an annular seating surface 121 formed in opposed relation to the main valve washer 68. The surface 121 and the main valve washer 68 thus are arranged and positioned to cooperatively close the seat ring opening to fluid flow therethrough when the main valve washer 68 is raised against the seating surface 121 by operation of the stem in an upward position. Similarly, when the main valve washer 68 is moved or lowered away from the surface 121 of the seat ring 60, water can flow through the opening of the seat ring 60 and from the inlet opening 13 to the outlet opening 14.

Drain ports 122 are conveniently located in the wall of the body member 10 and connect the annular chamber 120 to the outer surface of the body member 10.

Drain ducts 125, according to the present invention, preferably extend radially through the seal ring 60 and are inclined outwardly at an angle to the radii of seal ring 60. The radially outer end of the drain ducts 125 are arranged to ter minate in and communicate with the annular chamber 120. The drain ducts are conveniently formed by boring holes at the desired angle in the seal ring.

A drain valve is securely attached to the lower section 70 of the stem 100 on the outlet opening side of the main valve washer 68. This attachment may comprise an opening 131 in a hub portion 135 of the drain valve. The opening 131 receives the stem section 70 and pins 132 and 133, which extend through holes 137 in the hub portion 135 and stem section 70, to securely and rigidly attach the drain valve 130 to the stem. Thus, both the main valve 65 and the drain valve are raised and lowered by the stem 110.

The drain valve 130 further includes plate portions 140 spaced radially outward of the hub 135 and presenting elongated flat surfaces 141 extending parallel to the axis of the stem 100. The plate portions 140 slideably engage axially extending surfaces 145 on the inner surface of the seat ring 60. The plate portions further have apertures 146 extending through the plate portions from the surfaces 145 to open into the outlet opening side of the cavity 12. The apertures 146, which may conveniently comprise holes corresponding in size to the drain passages 125, are positioned to register with the drain ducts 125 when the main valve washer 68 is in a closed position, that is, with the main valve washer 68 positioned against the seating surface 121 of the seat ring to close the cavity 12 to fluid flow therethrough.

The width of the surface 145 is defined by edge walls 147 which extend parallel to the edges 148 of the plate portions 140 and guide the plate portions 140 during their upward and downward travel with the raising and lowering movement, respectively, of the hydrant stem 100. Additionally, the edges 148 prevent the drain valve 130 from rotational movement, and the drain valve 130, because of its rigid attachment to the stem 100, prevents the stem 100 from rotational movement.

When the apertures 146 are in register with the drain passages 125 (FIG. 3) any water which is located above the apertures, for example in the body portion 19 of the hydrant, will flow through the apertures 146, through the drain ducts 125 to chamber 120, and then through the drain port 122 to the ground surrounding the hydrant, thereby draining the hydrant when the hydrant is in a closed position. On the other hand, when the drain valve plate sections 140 are moved by movement of the stem 100 to open the main valve washer 68,

the apertures 146 are moved out of register with the drain ducts 125 (FIG. 4) and no water flows through apertures to the drain duct 125.

In accordance with the present invention, I have provided a novel seal means for sealing between the flat surfaces 140 of the drain valve 130 and the surface portion 145 of the seal ring 60 around the radially inner end of the drain passage 125. These seal means preferably comprise a tube 150 of resilient material having its outer cylindrical surface 151 engaging an enlarged portion 152 of the drain duct 125 (FIG. 5). The enlarged portion 152 is coaxial of the drain duct 125 and terminates against a shoulder 153 formed at the radially outer end of the enlarged portion 152. The resilient tube 150 has an axially extending passage 154 which is axially aligned with the drain passage 125 to form the radially inner portion of the drain passage. As pointed out above, the drain duct 125 is formed at an angle to the radii of the seat ring. This angle is sufficient to permit the enlarged portion 152 of the drain duct 125 to be conveniently formed by a counterbore, either simultaneously with the bore 125 or separately, and the tool which is used to form the counterbore, because of the angle, will clear the edge of the seal ring opposite the counterbore, without special machining.

The resilient tube 150 presents an endsurface 158 out at an 4 angle to the axis of the tube and in opposing relation to surface 141 of the drain valve plate section. The tube 150 extends at least to the surface 145 of the seal ring, and may extend sufficiently beyond the surface 145, such that the surface 158 compressively engages the surface 141 of the drain valve plate section to produce a fluid seal therebetween. Thus, the tube 150 is formed with a length which is sufficiently greater than the axial length of the enlarged portion 152 to urge or compressively bias the end surface 158 against the surface 141 of the drain valve 130, and the resilience of the tube 150 produces a fluid sealing force which prevents fluid flow between the surfaces 141 and the surface 158 to the drain duct 125. I

Further, an insert 160 of a low friction material, such as Teflon can be provided in the surface 158 and preferably surrounds the opening of the passage 154 (FIG. 6) to provide a low friction bearing surface against which the surface 141 rides. The radially outer portion of the seal surface 158 beyond the edge of the insert 160 may be relieved (FIG. 8) by an angle to lessen the friction drag in this area, as well as any possibility of the resilient tube catching on the aperture as the aperture slides past the tube 150.

In FIG. 7, l have shown another embodiment of my invention in which the resilient tube 250 extends entirely through the seat ring 260, with the opening of the tube forming the drain duct 225. In this case, the resilient tube 250 is enlarged at its end facing the ring opening.

In operation, the flange 15 of the body member 10 is connected toan underground water main (not shown) to supply water to the hydrant, the cap 54 is removed and a fire hose (not shown) may be attached to the threads 52. When the hydrant stem nut 85 is rotated in the appropriate direction, the stem 100 will move axially downward moving the main valve washer 68 out of engagement with the seat ring 60. Water is now free to pass through the inlet opening 13 into the cavity 12 and past the main valve washer 68 to flow through the seat ring opening and out the outlet opening 14. The water flows up the passage 38 and out the opening 37.

As the stern lowers the main valve washer 68, it simultaneously lowers the drain valve member 130 to move the aperture 146 out of register with the drain duct 125 to stop the flow of water therethrough. The resilient tube 150 which compressively engages the surface 141 provides an effective, simple, economical fluid seal between the surfaces 141 and 145.

When the stem nut 85 is rotated in the opposite direction the main valve washer 68 closes and the drain valve opens by positioning the aperture 146 in a registering relation with the drain ducts 125. In this relationship, any water in the passage 36 will flow downward through the outlet opening, into and through the aperture 146 to t e drain duct, and thence to the annular chamber 120 and out the drain port 122.

It will be further noted that the O-rings 110 and 111 provide seals between the seat ring 60 and the cavity wall of the body member to prevent the flow of water around the seat ring or into the chamber 120 when the hydrant is both open and closed. With this arrangement, also, the threads 61 and 62 are subjected to drain water only.

I claim:

1. In a tire hydrant having a body member defining a cavity with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a valve seat ring in said cavity between said inlet opening and said outlet opening, a main valve washer cooperating with said seat ring to control fluid flow ;through said body member, said seat ring having a drain duct extending between inner and outer surfaces thereof, a drain valve member mounted for movement with said main valve member and having a surface portion with an aperture therein covering the inner end of said drain duct for controlling fluid flow to said drain duct, wherein the improvement comprises said drain duct being formed at an angle to a plane ofsaid seat ring and is countersunk at its inner end portion, a projection of said duct passing above the upper edge of said seat ring, and a tubular seal means of resilient 

1. In a fire hydrant having a body member defining a cavity with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a valve seat ring in said cavity between said inlet opening and said outlet opening, a main valve washer cooperating with said seat ring to control fluid flow ;through said body member, said seat ring having a drain duct extending between inner and outer surfaces thereof, a drain valve member mounted for movement with said main valve member and having a surface portion with an aperture therein covering the inner end of said drain duct for controlling fluid flow to said drain duct, wherein the improvement comprises said drain duct being formed at an angle to a plane of said seat ring and is countersunk at its inner end portion, a projection of said duct passing above the upper edge of said seat ring, and a tubular seal means of resilient material positioned in said countersunk portion of said drain duct and having an end surface in fluidsealing engagement with said surface portion of said drain valve member.
 2. The structure according to claim 1, in which an annular insert of low friction material is positioned in said end surface of said sealing means and engages said surface portion of said drain valve member. 